The Town FilesYates City, Illinois
Village in Knox County · population 642 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $97,100
- Household income
- $63,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 49.3
Yates City is a village of 642 people in Knox County, Illinois. The median home is worth $97,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 90% of Illinois towns, quieter than 88% of Illinois towns, better for families than 81% of Illinois towns.
How Yates City ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Yates City is worth $97,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $63,750, which is more affordable than 90% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $590 a month. 85.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Yates City | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $97,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $590 | $960 |
| Median household income | $63,750 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 85.5% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Yates City
| People | Yates City | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.4% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 2.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 35.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Yates City
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 14.3°F. About 40.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.3 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Yates City since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 13, 1975 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 18, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 10, 2017.
Severe weather in Knox County since 1996
Knox County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Knox County
Knox County had 17,106 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,491 a year. Unemployment was 5.5% in 2023; in Yates City itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Towns near Yates City
- Elmwood, IL2.5 mi · 2,058 people · home $153,500
- Farmington, IL5.6 mi · 2,389 people · home $101,300
- Brimfield, IL8.1 mi · 778 people · home $140,700
- Williamsfield, IL10.3 mi · 575 people · home $109,800
- Hanna City, IL12.4 mi · 1,253 people · home $123,900
- Oak Run, IL14.0 mi · 721 people · home $298,300
- Canton, IL14.8 mi · 13,242 people · home $107,100
- Knoxville, IL16.8 mi · 2,901 people · home $145,300
Yates City questions
Is Yates City, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Yates City scores better for retirees than 73% of Illinois towns and quieter than 88%. 32.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.3).
How much does a house cost in Yates City?
The median owner-occupied home in Yates City is valued at $97,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,750, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $590 a month.
What is the weather like in Yates City?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 14.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.5 inches of precipitation a year and 21.3 inches of snow.
Does Yates City get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Yates City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 13, 1975. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)